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Computers & Business Machines

Imagine the loss, 100 years from now, if museums hadn't begun preserving the artifacts of the computer age. The last few decades offer proof positive of why museums must collect continuously—to document technological and social transformations already underway.

The Museum's collections contain mainframes, minicomputers, microcomputers, and handheld devices. A Cray2 supercomputer is part of the collections, along with one of the towers of IBM's Deep Blue, the computer that defeated reigning champion Garry Kasparov in a chess match in 1997. Other artifacts range from personal computers to ENIAC, the Altair, and the Osborne 1. Computer components and peripherals, games, software, manuals, and other documents are part of the collections. Some of the instruments of business include adding machines, calculators, typewriters, dictating machines, fax machines, cash registers, and photocopiers

This is a prototype for a non-printing desktop electronic calculator made by Sony Corporation of Japan. It has an array of nine digit keys, with a zero bar and a decimal point key below these. The keyboard also includes keys for the four arithmetic operations and an equals key. The machine also has an on-off switch, a clear key, and an “attention” light on the left and five further keys on the right. Behind is a display for the answer. The machine shows result up to ten digits long in ten tubes.

A mark on the front left of the machine reads: SONY. A mark on the back reads: SONY ELECTRONIC CALCULATOR (/) MODEL MD-6 NO. 7K282214.

A slightly earlier Sony prototype calculator was exhibited at the World Electronics Show in New York in the latter part of March 1964, and the Japanese Pavilion at the New York World Exposition opening in April. Early engineering drawings for the MD-6 are dated July 18, 1964.

By the early 1960s, Sony Corporation had gained an international reputation for such consumer electronics products as a pocket transistor radio and a transistorized television. It exhibited a prototype desktop electronic calculator in 1964. In 1967, it released the SOBAX, or solid state abacus. It was called an "ICC" or integrated circuit calculator. By 1968, the machine sold in the United States for $1,250.

The non-printing, four-function desktop electronic calculator has an array of nine digit keys at the center front. Zero and decimal point keys are below these. Immediately to the right are cancel, subtraction, and addition keys. Right of these keys are memory clear, memory input, and total keys, as well as a round-off switch.

Immediately to the left of the digit keys are division, multiplication, and result keys. Left of these are repeat and memory out keys. Still further left are the on-off switch and the clear key. Behind is a fourteen-digit display window. A decimal point lever is below the result display, and a minus lamp is at the far left. The case includes a plastic handle at the top. A cord extends from the back and can be wound around protruding “cord anchors” for storage.

A mark on the left front of the machine reads: SOBAX. A tag at the top reads: SONY.

In the late 1960s and 1970s, desktop electronic calculators replaced mechanical adding and calculating machines. The Nippon Calculating Machine Corporation of Japan sold such machines under the brand name Busicom. It also supplied other firms with electronic calculators sold under other names. This is a Busicom electronic calculator sold by the Dayton, Ohio, firm of NCR.

The machine has nine digit keys and a 0 bar. Clear and clear entry keys are left of the digit keys. Keys to the right of the digit keys are for the four arithmetic operations and memory access. Apparently nine or ten digit numbers may be entered, with results of up to twelve digits.

A tag attached at the top reads: NCR. A tag attached to the back reads; NCR (/) Class 18-22. It also reads: THE NATIONAL CASH REGISTER COMPANY. (/) MADE IN JAPAN. It also reads: NO. 1-9940221. This serial number indicates a date of 1972.

This compact Japanese electronic calculator straddles the border between desktop and pocket calculators. It is too large to fit in the pocket but considerably more compact than Sharp’s QT-8B. It does not require a cradle to recharge batteries.

The calculator has an array of nine digit keys, with larger 0 and decimal point keys below. Right of these are a clear key, a key for indicating that multiplication (rather than addition) should be carried out, a key for indication that division (rather than subtraction) should be carried out, and a key for multiplication or division. The machine has an eight-digit capacity for all operations. In back of the keyboard is an eight-digit display. Above these are alarm and error indicators. A switch is on the side shifts between AC operation, off, and DC operation.

A mark on the front reads: SHARP. A tag on the back reads in part: SHARP MODEL EL-8. It also reads: NO. 1021694 (/) SHARP ELECTRONICS CORPORATION (/) 10 KEYSTONE PLACE, PARAMUS (/) NEW JERSEY 07652 MADE IN JAPAN. An AC adaptor comes with the device and is assigned number 1981.0922.05.1. The dimensions given do not include the adaptor, the case for the adapter, or the case for the calculator.

Inside the instrument are six nickel-cadmium batteries in a case, a calculator circuit board, a display circuit board, and eight tubes for the display. The four integrated circuits on the calculator board were made by North American Rockwell. A stamp below the calculator circuit board reads: 1021694.

The battery cover is marked in part: SHARP MODEL EL-84 (/) NICKEL-CADMIUM (/) RECHARGEABLE BATTERY. It also is marked: SHARP CORPORATION OSAKA, JAPAN. Hayakawa Electric adopted the name Sharp Corporation in January of 1970.

The SHARP EL-8 was widely advertised in the United States from early 1971 and sold for $345. This example was used by NMAH curator John White. An invoice received with the device (part of 1981.0922.05.2) indicates that he purchased it October 30, 1971.

Compare a slightly earlier Sharp machine, the model QT-8B (2006.0132.22). Also compare three versions of the EL-8 (1982.0656.01, 1981.0922.05, and 1991.0154.01).

References:

Examples of the Sharp EL-8 are discussed online at the Vintage Calculators Web Museum, The Old Calculators Web Museum, John Wolff’s Web Museum and the Datamath Calculator Museum.

This compact Japanese electronic calculator straddles the border between desktop and pocket calculators. It is too large to fit in the pocket but considerably more compact than Sharp’s QT-8B. It does not require a cradle to recharge batteries.

The calculator has an array of nine digit keys, with larger 0 and decimal point keys below. Right of these are a clear key, a key for indicating that multiplication (rather than addition) should be carried out, a key for indication that division (rather than subtraction) should be carried out, and a key for multiplication or division. The machine has an eight digit capacity for all operations. In back of the keyboard is an eight digit display. Above these are alarm and error indicators. A switch is on the side shifts between AC operation, off, and DC operation.

A mark on the front reads: SHARP. A tag on the back reads in part: SHARP MODEL EL-8. It also reads: NO. 006927Y (/) SHARP ELECTRONICS CORPORATION (/) 10 KEYSTONE PLACE, PARAMUS (/) NEW JERSEY 07652 MADE IN JAPAN. An AC adapter comes with the device and is included in the dimensions.

Inside the case are six nickel-cadmium batteries in a case, a calculator circuit board, a display circuit board, and eight tubes for the display. The four integrated circuits on the calculator board were made by North American Rockwell.

The battery case is marked in part: SHARP MODEL EL-84 (/) NICKEL-CADMIUM (/) RECHARGEABLE BATTERY. It also is marked: SHARP CORPORATION OSAKA, JAPAN. Hayakawa Electric adopted the name Sharp Corporation in January of 1970.

The SHARP EL-8 was widely advertised in the United States from early 1971 and sold for $345. This example came to the Museum in 1982.

Compare a slightly earlier Sharp machine, the model QT-8B (2006.0132.22). Also compare three versions of the EL-8 (1982.0656.01, 1981.0922.05, and 1991.0154.01).

References:

Examples of the Sharp EL-8 are discussed online at the Vintage Calculators Web Museum, The Old Calculators Web Museum, John Wolff’s Web Museum and the Datamath Calculator Museum.

This Japanese-made non-printing desktop electronic calculator has an array of nine digit keys with a zero bar and a decimal point key below. Immediately right of these is a column of four function keys. Right of these are a clear/clear entry key, a sign change key, a percentage key, and an equals key. Left of the digit keys are a power switch, a memory switch, a memory recall key, and a memory clear key.

Behind the keyboard is a twelve-digit display. The power adapter fits into the base of the machine, and has a plug extending from the back. A paper sticker on the base of the machine gives operating instructions. A mark just above the keyboard reads: Unisonic 767-1224. A paper sticker on the bottom gives instructions for operating the calculator. It is marked in part: MADE IN JAPAN. A mark on a sticker below this reads: NO. 04956. The number is written in pen.

The North American Foreign Trading Corporation of New York City, N.Y., first used the trademark Unisonic in 1968 for vacuum tubes, resistors and other electronic devices. In 1972 it extended the trademark to include calculators, receiving the registration in 1975.

This compact Japanese electronic calculator straddles the border between desktop and pocket calculators. It is too large to fit in the pocket but considerably more compact than Sharp’s QT-8B. It also does not require a cradle to recharge batteries.

The calculator has an array of nine digit keys, with larger 0 and decimal point keys below. Right of these are a clear key, a key for indicating that multiplication (rather than addition) should be carried out, a key for indication that division (rather than subtraction) should be carried out, and a key for multiplication or division. The machine has an eight-digit capacity for all operations. In back of the keyboard is an eight-digit display. Above these are alarm and error indicators. A switch on the side shifts between AC operation, off, and DC operation.

A mark on the front reads: SHARP. A tag on the back reads in part: SHARP MODEL EL-8. It also reads: NO. 1098161 (/) SHARP ELECTRONICS CORPORATION (/) 10 KEYSTONE PLACE, PARAMUS, N. J. 07652 (/) MADE IN JAPAN. This example lacks its AC adapter.

Inside the instrument are six nickel-cadmium batteries in a case, a calculator circuit board, a display circuit board, and eight tubes for the display. The four integrated circuits on the calculator board were made by North American Rockwell. A stamp below the calculator circuit board reads: 1098161.

The battery cover is marked in part: SHARP MODEL EL-84 (/) NICKEL-CADMIUM (/) RECHARGEABLE BATTERY. It also is marked: SHARP CORPORATION OSAKA, JAPAN. Hayakawa Electric adopted the name Sharp Corporation in January of 1970.

The SHARP EL-8 was widely advertised in the United States from early 1971 and sold for $345. This example was given to the Smithsonian by calculator collector Guy D. Ball.

Compare a slightly earlier Sharp machine, the model QT-8B (2006.0132.22). Also compare three versions of the EL-8 (1982.0656.01, 1981.0922.05, and 1991.0154.01).

References:

Examples of the Sharp EL-8 are discussed online at the Vintage Calculators Web Museum, The Old Calculators Web Museum, John Wolff’s Web Museum and the Datamath Calculator Museum.

This Japanese-made non-printing electronic calculator is a relatively small and light desktop machine. It has an array of nine digit keys with a 0 and a decimal key below these. On the right are a clearance key, a key for indicating that multiplication (rather than addition) should be carried out, a key for indication that division (rather than subtraction) should be carried out, and a key for multiplication or division. The machine has an eight-digit capacity for all operations. In back of the keyboard is an eight-digit display. The on-off switch is on the side.

A mark on the front left reads: SHARP. A mark on the front right reads: microCompet. A mark behind the display reads: CORDLESS. A tag attached to the back reads in part: SHARP QT-8B (/) CORDLESS MICRO COMPET/. It also says in part: NO. 0067148 (/) SHARP ELECTRONICS CORPORATION (/) 10 KEYSTONE PLACE, PARAMUS (/) NEW JERSEY 07652 MADE IN JAPAN. The black carrying case has a handle.

The calculator fits into a plastic battery unit. The unit is plugged into the wall to operate the machine on alternating current or to charge the adapter. To operate the machine on direct current, the plug is not used and the switch is turned off. A mark on the back of the adapter reads: MICRO COMPET ADAPTOR. The adaptor has a gray cloth cover.

The instruction manual that comes with the calculator indicates that the machine incorporates four ELSIs (Extra Large Scale Integrations) with one 4-phase clock generator. The calculator was advertised in American newspapers from mid-1970 into 1971. The QT-8B (with the battery pack) cost $495.

This black box for charging the battery on a Sharp EL-8 electronic calculator has two cords. One plugs into the wall, the other into the calculator. A tag on the bottom reads in part: SHARP MODEL EL-81. It also reads: 1016024. A tag on the top reads: SHARP (/) AC ADATOR. The device has a black plastic carrying case. Dimensions do not include case.

This lightweight, non-printing electronic calculator has an array of nine digit keys with a slightly larger 0 key and a decimal point key below these. On the right are keys for arithmetic operations. On the left are K, clear, and clear entry keys. The tubes above the keyboard show results up to ten digits in length.

A mark above the display on the right reads: ELETAC10. A sticker attached above the display on the left reads: Ultima. Letters attached to the front left read: MUDEN. A tag attached to the bottom reads: ELECTRONIC CALCULATOR (/) ELETAC 10. It also reads: SERIAL NO. 320636 (/) Ultima Electronics, Ltd. (/) Made in Japan.

Removing four screws from the bottom of the machine releases the cover. One circuit board is at the base, one holds the tubes that make up the display, and one lies under the keyboard. The calculator chip on the base has a Texas Instruments logo and reads: TMS0118NC (/) C7339. The "7339" is date code that refers to the 39th week of 1973, which is when the chip was manufactured.

A February 13, 1973, article in the New York Times lists Muden as one of several companies that sold electronic calculators. On August 17, 1976, Ultima Electronics, Ltd., in Melville, N.Y., filed trademarks for MUDEN (first used in commerce in the United States in June of 1976) and ULTIMA (first used in commerce in the United States in October of 1975). These trademarks were registered in 1978. By 1989 Ultima Electronics was in Taiwan. As the Eletac 10 never gained wide sales, it seems likely that this example was sold about 1976.

References:

R.Metz, “Market Place,” New York Times, February 9, 1973, p. 46.

Images of another example of this machine, with detailed photographs, are at http://www.devidts.com/be-calc/, accessed April 2, 2013.

Yet another example of this machine, with a related Japanese advertisement, is in the Japanese virtual calculator museum at http://www.dentaku-museum.com/, accessed April 2, 2013.